OXFORD United intend to promote coaches from within rather than look for a direct replacement for Shaun Derry.

Tomorrow’s visit to Luton Town will mark the end of Derry’s 12-month stint as first-team coach.

It is a job title he shared with Derek Fazackerley, under head coach Karl Robinson, who are set to continue as a pair on the touchline next season.

There are no plans to add anyone else to the bench on a matchday, but Derry’s exit will provide a pathway for development at the training ground.

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Robinson intends to use under 23 coach Chris Allen, who has several seasons’ experience in the club’s senior set-up, plus youth team coaches Chris Hackett and Leon Blackmore-Such.

The U’s boss said: “I’m very lucky to have someone like Faz.

“He’s had an incredible career and is good for me, he’s a calming influence and I’ve learned so much from him.

“Leon, Chris (Allen), Chris Hackett are very good and have been unsung heroes for a long time here.

“The education of the staff is so important.

“I want to make sure there’s continuity, so when the young players come (from the academy) into the first team there’s a face they know.”

Robinson began his managerial career aged 29 at Milton Keynes Dons, having had coaching roles at Liverpool and Blackburn Rovers.

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And having benefitted from opportunities as a young coach, the United chief is keen to create similar chances for others.

He said: “You almost want to repay the game back by giving others that opportunity at a similar age to develop skills and make mistakes.

“It’s important we get that right and develop all the coaches, because we’re not at a club where money is easy to find and give them great (pay) rises, but we can give them great opportunities.”

The final beneficiary is likely to be skipper John Mousinho.

Robinson said: “We’ll be having these conversations.

“He wants to be a manager one day and we’ll have to wait and see.”